“Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.’ ” (Luke 1:46-50)
Things aren’t always as they seem. Carefully wrapped gifts can really be thoughtless presents. Merry-looking families can be secretly miserable. Homes lit up in Christmas lights can be empty or gloomy. Appearances can be deceiving.
We know this is true. But that doesn’t stop us from obsessing about how things look. Even faithful Christians get caught up in fussing over holiday decorations, twinkling lights, and picture-perfect poses. We want everything to look just right.
Perhaps this is why Christmas can be so exhausting for so many of us. We exert a tremendous amount of energy and effort trying to do everything perfectly. Do this. Be that. Be here and there. Make lasting memories—and make them joyful too. It’s no wonder we end up driving our loved ones crazy and making ourselves weary.
The ugly truth is that we aren’t perfect—no matter what our tables or trees look like. No matter how nice of a picture we capture, our appearances do not deceive our God.
You could imagine that Mary was worried about her appearance too. A young, unmarried woman could only hide her pregnancy for so long. What would people think? What would they say? Where could she turn for help?
But this child was a blessing. This pregnancy may not have been what she would have chosen for her life, but God chose something better. He chose to bless her richly. During her pregnancy, many people might have spread all kinds of vicious lies about her—but she knew the Mighty One had done great things for her. This child was not a burden but a blessing. He wasn’t something to hide but a reason to glorify the Lord and rejoice in God her Savior.
Your life may not match your dreams. Strained relationships don’t magically improve just because it’s Christmas. The picture-perfect family might be a pipe dream. But the Lord is mindful of your humble state. He sent his Son to redeem you and to make you holy, unblemished, and blameless in God’s sight. So marvel at his mercy. It extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Dear Father, my family is not always what I hoped it would be. Thank you for adopting me into your family and extending your mercy to me through your Son. Amen.
From Meditations: Vol. 62, No. 1, Edited by Raymond Schumacher © 2017 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.
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